DAY 165

A PICTURE’S WORTH 1000 200 WORDS

When Are You Getting Married?

PAUL GAUGUIN, 1892

In 1891, French artist Paul Gauguin left France and lived the remainder of his life in the South Pacific. It was during this time that he created his best-known paintings.

When Are You Getting Married? was completed while he was living on the island of Tahiti. During this time, his painting style absorbed the lively Polynesian culture that surrounded him and was influenced by artistic styles of the region—his colors became brighter, his shapes became flatter, and his brushstrokes became rougher.

This painting of two Polynesian women touches on a cultural tradition involving the language of flowers. In Tahiti, a flower behind the left ear of a woman indicates that she is either married or engaged. We can imagine that, based on the title of this piece, Gauguin wished to capture an intimate moment of a bride-to-be and loved one. —DDG